Cable mounted toy vehicle and toy system employing the same

ABSTRACT

A toy system of the type wherein toy vehicles are suspended and move upon an elevated rail system. The exemplary embodiment contemplates the use of a plurality of rails, some of which may intersect each other, and vehicles which are suspended by the rails and include drive mechanism for driving the same along the rails. The vehicles further include a transfer device which is operative when the vehicle is at an intersection of two rails to transfer the vehicle from the rail on which it was traveling to the intersecting rail. Also included is a retaining device to insure that a vehicle will not drop from the rails during transfer at an intersection. The system further includes a vehicle operative to release one or more projectiles at a target mechanism with the target mechanism being operative to launch one or more projectiles upon being struck by a projectile dropped from a vehicle. Also contemplated is an auxiliary, normally ground engaging vehicle and a cooperating vehicle to be suspended from the rail system. Cooperating elements on the auxiliary vehicle and the suspended vehicle are operative to releasably secure the two together when one vehicle engages the other during relative movement therebetween.

United States Patent Breslow et al.

[ 51 Sept. 26, 1972 154] CABLE MOUNTED TOY VEHICLE AND TOY SYSTEM EMPLOYING THE SAME [72] Inventors: Jeffrey D. Breslow, Evanston; Marvin 1. Glass; Burton C. Meyer; Eugene Jaworskl, all of Chicago; Gordon A. Barlow, Evanston, all of 111.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates [22] Filed: Dec. 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 100,873

[52] US. Cl ..46/202, 273/101 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 11/10 [58] Field of Search ..46/201, 202, 216, 217, 218,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,541,589 6/1925 Rossini ..46/202 3,318,042 5/1967 Wolf ..46/77 1,176,888 3/1916 Godfrey ..46/216 3,295,249 1/1967 Johnson et al. ..46/202 X 3,377,741 4/1968 Ryan ..46/202 3,398,956 8/1968 Lukes ..273/101 2,787,088 4/1957 Gridley ..46/202 X Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & Mc- Cord 5 7] ABSTRACT A toy system of the type wherein toy vehicles are suspended and move upon an elevated rail system. The exemplary embodiment contemplates the use of a plurality of rails, some of which may intersect each other, and vehicles which are suspended by the rails and include drive mechanism for driving the same along the rails. The vehicles further include a transfer device which is operative when the vehicle is at an intersection of two rails to transfer the vehicle from the rail on which it was traveling to the intersecting rail. Also included is.a retaining device to insure that a vehicle will not drop from the rails during transfer at an intersection. The system further includes a vehicle operative to release one or more projectiles at a target mechanism with the target mechanism being operative to launch one or more projectiles upon being struck by a projectile dropped from a vehicle. Also contemplated is an auxiliary, normally ground engaging vehicle and a cooperating vehicle to be suspended from the rail system. Cooperating elements on the auxiliary vehicle and the suspended vehicle are operative to releasably secure the two together when one vehicle engages the other during relative movement therebetween.

22 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEU SEP 2 6 I972 SHEET 1 BF 4' ATTORNEYS PATENTEflsiPzs 1912 SHEET 2 BF 4 W 5 0 m w. mm w www wm W 0 0 M nw i om w W m M Q J M 5 EL mm 0 .Q. o.

ATTORNEYS CABLE MOUNTED TOY VEHICLE AND TOY SYSTEM EMPLOYING THE SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Over the years there have been a number of proposals of toy systems wherein vehicles of one sort or another are suspended by rails and travel therealong. Depending upon the specific proposal, the rails may be either flexible or relatively rigid, and the toy systems are generally in the nature of cable cars or monorails respectively.

Such proposals, while successful for their intended purpose, have invoked only limited interest on the part of users since they are basically adapted to merely travel around a rail loop or along a straight length of rail with automatic direction reversing when the end of the rail is approached.

Such proposals have completely failed to comprehend the limitless possibilities for invoking additional interest on the part of the user if provision was made for a plural rail system and mechanism for transferring the vehicle'from one rail to another at an intersection of two rails; cooperation between a suspended vehicle and a ground engaging vehicle; and cooperation between a moving vehicle and a fixed target on a lower, target supporting surface; etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principle object of the invention to provide a new and improved toy system of the type employing elevated rails on which vehicles may be suspended and along which the vehicles may travel.

The exemplary embodiment of the invention achieves the foregoing object through a unique construction of a drive and transfer mechanism for a vehicle whereby a plurality of rails, some of which may intersect each other, may be used with the vehicle driving itself along the rails and transferring from one rail to another at an intersection. In particular, the drive and transfer mechanism includes a friction disc which is adapted to overlie a rail of either a flexible or a relatively rigid type. To retain the friction disc on the rail, the same is sandwiched between a flange element of enlarged diameter and a star wheel. In addition to serving as a retainer for the rail, the star wheel further serves as the transfer mechanism.

Specifically, when an intersection of two rails is approached by the vehicle, the engagement of the flange with the intersecting rail tends to block movement of one side of the vehicle while a point on the star wheel engages the intersecting rail and tends to maintain the movement of its associated side of the vehicle resulting in a pivoting action which in turn results in the transfer of the vehicle from one rail to the other.

In order to insure that the vehicle is retained on the rails during a transfer operation, the same mounts, forwardly of the flange and star wheel, a pair of spaced wings between which a rail is achieved. As the intersection is approached, the intersecting rail cams the wings downwardly and during the pivoting motion, one or the other or both of the rails at the intersection tend to maintain the winds in a lowered position until the pivoting action is substantially complete. At this point, the rails no longer maintain the wings depressed and the same are moved upwardly under the bias of a spring to sandwich the rail and prevent the vehicle from disengaging the same.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the vehicles are formed as helicopters with the drive of the friction disc also being employed to drive a rotor structure.

The invention further contemplates that the vehicles take a variety of formations and may cooperate with auxiliary vehicles of the ground engaging type. According to one embodiment, one of the vehicles is in the form of a cargo helicopter and depending from the underside of the same is an inverted channel having its sides spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of an auxiliary ground engaging vehicle. On the inner surface of the channel sides there are provided tipped, generally Z-shaped tracks which are adapted to receive outwardly projecting studs on the side of the ground engaging vehicle to engage the same and carrying the vehicle with the helicopter as the latter travels along the rails. The tracks further are configured so that ground engaging vehicles may be selectively released from the cargo helicopter.

Also contemplated for cooperation with a vehicle is a fixed target device. In particular, a vehicle formed as an attach helicopter is provided with a bomb bay in which projectiles such as marbles may be stored and selectively released by a user of the device. The target device mentioned includes a target plate which, when struck by projectiles dropped from the helicopter, through any suitable latch mechanism may release a loaded spring which in turn may launch projectiles of one sort or another.

Finally, the invention contemplates unique means whereby vehicles can simulate the dropping of personnel as by parachute.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi component toy made according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of a vehicle, and specifically a helicopter, employed in the toy;

FIG. 3 illustrates electrical components and related circuitry employed in the vehicle;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a drive mechanism used in the vehicle;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the drive mechanism;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, vertical section of a portion of the drive mechanism;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation of the drive mechanism;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevation of the drive mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a standard employed in the toy;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section of a vehicle, specifically a cargo helicopter, and its relation to an accessory vehicle employed in the toy system;

FIG. 1 I is a fragmentary vertical section further illustrating the relation between the accessory vehicle and the cargo helicopter;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of still another accessory, a parachute, and its relation to a portion of a vehicle at one stage in the operation of the same.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the parachute illustrated in FIG. 12 and its relation to the vehicle is still another stage of the operation of the same;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the parachute illustrated in FIG. 12 and 13; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary vertical section of a string storage device employed in the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An exemplary embodiment of a toy system made according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and it is generally seen to be centered about a suspension rail system including rails which may be formed of a flexible material such as common string and relatively rigid rails 22 which may be formed of an inexpensive material such as plastic. The plastic rails 22 may be configured in a variety of shapes, as for example, circular configurations, generally designated 24 and rectangular configurations as, for example, illustrated at 26. Furthermore, the plastic rails 22 need not be formed in closed loop configurations. For example, one of the plastic rails 22 may form an upstanding flange one one side of a plate 28 formed or plastic or the like. j

As will be seen, vehicles are provided for traveling on the rails 2(land 22. When a plurality of vehicles are used, the nature of the transport mechanism for the same will be shown to be such that the closed loop configuration defined between plastic rails 22 as for example, the rectangular configuration 26, serves as passing zones for two vehicles moving in opposite directions. As will be seen, and with reference to FIG. 1, a vehicle approaching the rail configuration 26 from the lowermost side thereof will pass about the right-hand edge of the same. While vehicles approaching the same configuration from the upper side thereof will pass about the left-hand side to permit the two pass each other simultaneously assuming that there is no transfer of the vehicles to other rails in a manner to be described hereinafter. Of course, in order for such passing action to successfully occur, it is necessary that the spacing between the rails on the sides of the configurations be such that vehicles supported thereon are in a sufficiently spaced relation so that parts of the same will not engage each other.

The plastic rails 22 are mounted in an elevated position above a supporting surface as, foe example, a floor 30, ad the mounting means may comprise any of a variety of suitable elements, For example, a standard, generally designated 32, having a base 34 and an upright post 36 engaging generally horizontally extending struts 38 which, in turn, engage the rail 22 may be employed. Alternately, conventional clamping elements 40 in the nature of C-clamps may be used to secure one of the rails 22 to any suitable structure 42 resting on the floor 30. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the clamps 40 extended through openings 44 in the plate 28 which, it will be recalled, mounts a rail 22 along one edge thereof. 1

The support for the rail system may be completed by a storage device, generally designated 46, mounted on uprights 48 extending upwardly from a base 50 which in turn is clamped to the upper surface of the structure 42, again by clamping means such as the clamps 40. As

will be seen, the storage device 46 is utilized to store the string rails 20 when the system is not in use.

The just-described suspension rail system can be set up in a variety of configurations dependent upon the location of the relatively rigid rails 22 which may be arbitrarily selected by a user of the toy system.

The suspension rail system thus defined in employed to support any one or more of a plurality of different types of vehicles as, for example, a toy cargo helicopter generally designated 50; a toy attack helicopter, generally designated 52; and a toy helicopter of the type used for personnel carrying purposes, generally designated 54. Of course, it is to be appreciated that the vehicle need not be in the form of helicopters or, for that matter, even airborne vehicles.

By means of a drive mechanism and shifting construction, the vehicles may travel along the string rails 20 to the relatively rigid rails 22 and transfer thereto until such time as another string rail 20 is encountered in the path of travel at which time the vehicle will then transfer to that string rail. Furthermore, while not shown in FIG. 1, the same action will occur if a vehicle while traveling on one string rail 20 meets the intersection of the same with another string rail 20. That is, the transfer of the vehicle from one rail to another will take place at any intersection of two rails regardless of whether one rail is of a type that is the same or dissimilar to the rail on which the vehicle is traveling.

The toy system may further include various accessory devices. For example, a model heliport 56 may be employed if the vehicles are in the form of helicopters. Similarly, a ground engaging vehicle 58 may be used in conjunction with a cargo helicopter 50 while a target device, generally designated 60, may be employed in conjunction with the attack helicopter 52.

The target device 60 may include a target plate 61 operative to launch propeller devices 62 when hit by missiles which may be dropped from the attack helicopter 52 in a manner to be seen hereinafter. The propeller device 62 may simulate vertical takeoff lift (VTOL) aircraft, for example. In a like manner, a tar- .get device, generally designated 63, may include target plate 64 operative to launch fixed wing aircraft 65 when the target plate 64 is struck by missiles.

In the case of both the propeller devices 62 and the aircraft 65, and their respective relations to the target plates 61 and 64, the propeller devices 62 and the aircraft 65 may be loaded for rotary and linear driving motion, respectively, by conventional spring loaded mechanism. Movement of the target plates 61 and 64 upon being impacted by a missile, may therefore be employed to release a latch mechanism to in turn release the respective loaded springs to impart rotary or linear motion.

Additionally, the personnel carrying helicopter 54 may be employed in conjunction with an accessory in the form of a parachute device 66 for simulating the dropping of personnel.

Finally, various other accessory devices such as aircraft 68 and ground engaging vehicles 70 may be employed.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-8, the construction of the attack helicopter 52 as well as a drive and transfer mechanism embodied in each vehicle will be described. More particularly, the attack helicopter 52 includes a fuselage 72 mounting at its lower extremity model conventional helicopter'skids 74. The rear lower section of the fuselage 72 includes an opening 76 through which projectiles such as marbles 78 may be inserted into the fuselage 72. At the lower front of the fuselage 72 is a bomb bay 80 through which the projectiles 78 may exit the fuselage 72 and will be seen. interposed between the bomb bay 80 and the opening 76 is forwardly and downwardly sloping ramp 82 and an escapement mechanism, generally designated 84. The escapement mechanism includes a first arm 85 for blocking the bomb bay 80, a second arm 86 which may extend through an opening 87 in the ramp 82, a mounting arm 88 pivoted at 89 to the fuselage 72, a control arm 90 having a string 91 secured thereto, and biasing means (not shown) for biasing the escapement 84 clockwise about the pivot 89 to the position shown in FIG. 2.

The arrangement is such that when an operator pulls on the string 91 to pivot the escapement 84, the arm 85 will no longer block the bomb bay 84 and two of the projectiles 78 will roll down the ramp 84 and out of the bomb bay 80 to strike, for example, the target plates62 (FIG. 1). At the same time, the arm 86 will move upwardly through the aperture 87 to block movement of the remainder of the projectiles 78. When thestring 91 is thereafter released, the biasing means will return the arm 85 to the blocking position, at which time the remaining projectiles will roll forwardly to a position whereat the cycle may be repeated.

The upper surface of the fuselage 72 mounts a drive and transfer mechanism, generally designated 94, as well as a manually operable electrical control switch 96. Housed within the fuselage 72 in battery mount 98 containing batteries 100 for energizing an electrical motor forming part of the drive and transfer mechanism 94. As. best seen in FIG. 3, the battery holder 98 mounting the batteries 180 has electrically connected thereto in a conventional manner electric leads 102, 104 and 106 which connect the switch 96 and a drive motor 108 in series with each other and with the batteries 100.

Turning now to the drive and transfer mechanism 94, it will be seen that a rotor shaft 110 extends upwardly therefrom into the hub 112 of a rotor structure mount- .ing blades 114. The lower end of the shaft 110 terminates in a friction disc 116 which rests on a gear 118. As best seen in FIG. 4, the shaft 110 is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis by a pair of horizontally extending brackets in such a way as to permit a slight amount of movement of the shaft 110 along its longitudinal axis. The mounting is further such that the axis of rotation of the shaft 110 is displaced from the plane of the gear 118 so that rotation of the gear 118 will impart rotary motion to the friction disc 116, and thus to the shaft 110.

The purpose of the foregoing construction is, of course, to impart rotation to the rotor structure including the blades 114 to simulate the movement of the rotor on an actual helicopter and the presence of the friction disc 116 rather than a gear enmeshed with the gear 118 permits slippage between the two in the event a rotor blade 114 where to encounter an obstruction as a piece of furniture. Furthermore, a small amount of vertical movement of the shaft 110 permits the friction disc 116 actually to be lifted out of driven engagement with the gear 118.

FIG. 4 also illustrates the position of the drive motor 108. In particular, the same is received in a channellike portion 122 at the bottom end of a downward extension 124 of the uppermost shaft mounting bracket 120. A drive shaft 126 of the motor 122 extends through an aperture (not shown) in the downward extension 124 and mounts a drive gear 128 on its outer extremity. The same is in engagement with an enlarged spur gear 130 mounted for rotation on a shaft 132 with a smaller spur gear 134. That is, the spur gears 132 and 134 are connected together for common movement.

The smaller spur gear 134 is in turn enmeshed with an enlarged spur gear 136 which, like the spurgear 130, drives a small spur gear 138. The spur gear 138 in turn is in mesh with an enlarged spur gear 140 which in turn drives a smaller spur gear 142, the latter two mounted for rotation on the shaft 132 but independently of the gear combination including the spur gears 130 and 134. I

The smaller spur gear 142 is in mesh with an enlarged spur gear 144 which, in turn, is drivingly connected to another small spur gear 146.

The smaller spur gear 146 in turn is in mesh with the spur gear 118 which, it will be recalled, drives the friction disc 116.

Turning to FIG. 6, it will be seen that the gear combination comprised of the gears 136 and 138 and the gear combination comprised of the gears 144 and 146 are mounted for rotation about a common axis defined by a sleeve 148 which is journaled for rotation in an aperture 150 in the downward extension 124. The other end of the sleeve 148 is journaled for rotation in an upwardly extending plate 152.

The gear combination comprising the gears 136 and 138 is freely rotatable on the sleeve 148 while the gear combination comprises of gears 144 and 146 is pinned by any suitable means to the sleeve 148 to impart rotation thereto.

Mounted for rotation within the sleeve 148 is a shaft 154 mounting at one end a spur gear 156 which is in driven engagement with a small spur gear 158 mounted on a shaft 160 which also serves to mount the spur gear 118.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that all gears bearing a reference numeral under 146 (with the exception of the gear 118) form a speed reduction transmission for driving the sleeve 148. It will further be appreciated that the gears 146, 118, 156 and 158 from a further speed reduction transmission for the shaft 154 within the sleeve 148. The arrangement may be such as, for example, to cause the sleeve 148 to rotate at twice the rate of the shaft 154.

The sleeve 148 drives a drive mechanism while the shaft 154 drives a transfer mechanism. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, the drive mechanism is simply comprised of a friction disc 162 mounted for rotation with the sleeve 148 and an enlarged diameter flange element 164. The flange 164 includes a curved periphery 166 on the side of the same facing the friction disc 162.

The transfer mechanism is comprised of a star wheel 168 mounted for rotation with the shaft 154 by means of a screw 170 extending into a tapped bore 172 in a reduced diameter portion 174 of the shaft 154. As seen in FIG. 2, the star wheel 168 includes six prongs but the number may be varied as desired. As seen in FIG. 6, the overall arrangement is such that the friction disc 162 overlies a rail (or for that matter a rail 22) and is retained in that relation by the flange 1643 on one side and the star wheel 168 on the other. The disc 162 therefore serves as both a driving means and a means for suspending the vehicle from the rail. However, if desired, two separate means could be employed for the driving and suspending functions. The total arrangement is such that the frictional engagement between either a rail 20 or a rail 22 and the friction disc 162 drives the vehicle along the rail.

When an intersection of two rails is approached, to some extent further forward movement is blocked by the engagement of the flange 164 with the intersecting rail while one of the prongs on the star wheel 168 will engage the intersecting rail. For the specific configuration of the transfer mechanism illustrated in FIG. 2-8, with the vehicle moving forwardly, the foregoing action results in the blockage of movement of the right side of the vehicle while the engagement of the star wheel with the intersecting track will cause the left side of the vehicle to continue to move. Thus will result in a pivoting action of the vehicle about an approximately vertical axis coextensive with the point of intersection of the rail on which it was originally traveling and the friction disc 162. The overall result will be that the vehicle will make a right-hand turn onto the intersecting rail.

In the specific embodiment illustrated, to facilitate realism in the toy system, it is desirable that the vehicles move at a relatively high velocity and as a result, it is possible that the abrupt turn when an intersecting rail is encountered will result in sufficient angular momentum being imparted to the vehicle that the same will not only make the turn but continue to rotate and actually fall off of the rail. Such an occurrence is minimized in part by the just-described construction by reason of the gearing whereby the star wheel 168 is rotated at a lesser speed than the drive mechanism. To totally obviate the the possibility of the vehicle falling off of the rail when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds, a retaining structure, generally designated 176 is provided.

As best seen in FIG. 8, the retaining structure 176 is comprised of a pair of wings 178 and 180. The lowermost extremities of the wings 178 and 180 are pivotally mounted on a shaft 18?. extending between and rotatably received in mounting brackets 184 secured to the upper side of the fuselage 72.

As best viewed in FIG. 5, a coil spring 186 surrounds the shaft 182 and includes outwardly extending ends 188 and 190 to bias both of the wings 178 and 180 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 182. In particular, the end 188 is in engagement with the wing 180 while the end 190 engages the upper side of the fuselage. By securing both of the wings 178 and 180 to the shaft 182, the bias applied to the wing 180 by the spring 186 is similarly applied to the wing 178. In order to limit the clockwise movement of the wings 178 and 180 as viewed in FIG. 5, a stop element 192 extending upwardly from the brackets 184 to engage the front side of one or the other or both of the wings 178 and 180 is provided. The arrangement is such that the upper ends of the wings may move to a position where they project above a rail 20 a distance about equal to the height of the highest prong of the star wheel 168 above the rail 20 as viewed in FIG. 7. Furthermore, the location of the shaft 182 is such that the wings 178 and 180 may pivot to a position below the rail while leaving just a slight clearance between the ends of the same and the star wheel 168 as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 7. In the dotted line illustration in FIG. 7 such movement of the wings 178 and has been caused by the engagement of the same with an intersecting rail 20 which cams the wings 178 and 180 downwardly against the bias of the spring.

Returning to FIG. 8, it will be seen that the wings 178 and 180 are spaced from each other with the upper end of the wing 180 being in a plane approximately coextensive with the left-hand edge of the flange 164 and with the upper end of the wing 178 being within the confines of the two planes encompassing the ends of the star wheel 168. Furthermore, the spacing is such that a rail 20 in engagement with the friction disc 162 may extend freely between the wings 178 and 180.

As mentioned previously, the wings 178 and 180 serve to retain the vehicle on the rail 20 during the turn at an intersection. In particularly, and with specific reference to FIG. 7, when an intersection such as that designated at is encountered, continued forward movement of the vehicle (in the direction of an arrow 191) will cause the wings 178 and 180 to be cammed downwardly to the dotted line position. At about the lowermost point of movement of the wings,-the star wheel 168 will engage the intersecting rail and begin the pivoting action mentioned previously. Throughout the pivoting action, one or the other of the rails at the intersection will be in engagement with one or the other of the wings 178 and 180 to maintain the same in the lowermost position until the turn is very close to being completed. At such a time, there will no longer be such engagement and the bias of the spring 186 will return both wings 178 and 180 to the full line position illustrated in FIG. 7 whereupon the rail 20 is confined between the same and the underside of the friction disc 162 to preclude any possibility of the vehicle falling off the rail.

Referring to FIG. 9, one means by which the rails 20 may be secured to the rails 22 is illustrated. It will be recalled that the rails 22 are formed of a relatively rigid material while the rails 20 may be formed of string or the like. Accordingly, to provide a smooth intersection, the relatively rigid rail 22 is provided with a notch 200 in which a rail 20 may be received. By any suitable means, one end of the rail 20 may be secured to the standard for the rail 22.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 10 and 11, there is illustrated the relation between the cargo helicopter 50 and the auxiliary ground engaging vehicle 58. In particular, and as best seen in FIG. 1, depending from the underside of the helicopter 50 is an inverted channel-like member, generally designated 202, having the side walls 204 spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the maximum width of the vehicle 58. If desired, the lowermost extremities of the side walls 204 may mount wheels 206. With specific reference to FIGS. 10 and 1 1, the inner side of each side wall 204 is provided with inwardly projecting, vertically spaced ridges 208 and 210 defining a stud receiving track 212. The ridges 208 and 210 are configured in the shape illustrated in the drawing to define a depression 214 in the track 212. The vehicle 58 has a pair of studs 216, one projecting from each side of the same, and vertically located thereon so that the same may be received within the track 212 when the helicopter 50 is moved in the direction of an arrow 219 just slightly above the surface 36 on which the toy system is supported. An operator of the toy, by regulating the tautness of one of the flexible rails 20 by hand, can permit the vehicle 50 to lower to approximately the position shown in FIG. 10 and continued movement of the same will result in the reception of the studs 216 within the tracks 212. Continued forward movement of the vehicle 50 will result in the studs 216 lodging in the depression 214 at which time increased tension may be applied to the rail 20 to raise the vehicle 50 to a greater height above the surface 30 thereby lifting the vehicle 58 off of the surface 50 to carry the same in the manner illustrated in FIG. 11 around the entire track system if desired. The vehicle 58 may be released from the carrying vehicle 50 in substantially the same manner. Specifically, the operator may release tension on one of the rails 21) to permit both vehicles 50 and 58 to lower until such time as the vehicle 58 engages the surface 30 and the vehicle 50 is in substantial engagement with the surface 38. Continued forward motion of the vehicle 50 will result in the studs 216 leaving the tracks 212 at the right-hand end of the latter as viewed in FIGS. 10 and 11 thereby releasing the vehicle 58.

The invention also contemplates that the vehicle 58 be capable of providing some action while being lifted and/or being carried by the vehicle 50. In the exemplary embodiment, a hook bearing arm 218 is pivotally mounted at 220 to the rear of the vehicle 58 and has a length sufficient that engagement of the same with the surface 30 will result in pivotal movement of the arm 218 about the pivot 220 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 10. Within a housing defining the vehicle 58, there may be provided batteries 222 in a conventional battery holder 224 having a contact 226 extending therefrom. The housing defining the vehicle may also include a lamp fixture 228 pivotally mounted to the housing 230 for movement between a position wherein the lamp fixture 228 is directed horizontally as illustrated in FIG. 10 and a position wherein the lamp fixture 228 is directed downwardly as illustrated in FIG. 1 1.

The lamp fixture 228 includes a contact 232 arranged in such a way as to be electrically separated from the contacts 226 with the mixture 228 faces horizontally but to be in the electrical contact with the contact 226 when the lamp fixture 228 is directed downwardly. By means of any suitable linkage, such as a meshing gear system 229, the pivotal movement of the arm 218 as the vehicle 58 is picked up or set down by the helicopter 50 can be used to control pivotal movement of the lamp fixture 228 to and from the positions shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 and thus the making and braking of an appropriate circuit from the batteries 222 through the contacts 226 and 232 to thereby control energization of the light. In particular, the picking up of the vehicle 58 will result in downward movement of the arm 218 to energize the lamp circuit while when the vehicle 58 is set down, continued forward movement of the helicopter 50 will result in upward pivotal movement of the arm 218 which, through the linkage mentioned previously, will result in the breaking of the lamp energization circuit. It will be appreciated that the 18 vehicle 58 may therefore be used as a floodlight type of accessory with the energization of the lamp occurring only when-the vehicle 58 is airborne and carried by the helicopter 56.

With reference now to FIGS. land 12-14, the relation of the personnel carrying helicopter 54 to the parachute 66 may be described. As best seen in FIG. 1, projecting forwardly of the fuselage of the helicopter 54 is a fork 240. With reference to FIG. 12, the parachute 66 is seen to be suspended by a chord 242 from a rail 20. As the helicopter 54 is moved along the rail 20 thereby advancing the ford 240 in the direction of an arrow 244, the fork will engage the chord 242 and, as best seen in FIG. 13, continue to move along the chord 242 until the top of the parachute 66 is engaged. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the top of the parachute 66 is comprised of a button-like element 246 having a lower peripheral flange 248 and an upper slot 250. The button 246 is made of a generally resilient material with the flange 248 serving to maintain the same within the canopy of the parachute 66. The chord 242 may be received and held in the slot 250 in the button.

It will therefore be appreciated that a releasable connection between the chord 242 and the parachute 66 is established and when the fork 240 engages the top of the parachute 66, the connection will be broken thereby permitting the parachute 66 to spread and to drop to the surface 30 simulating a parachute jump.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 15, the storage device 46 will be described. As best seen in FIG. 1, the storage device 46 is comprised of a housing 252 having a pair of cranks 254 mounted thereon. One of the cranks 254 is associated with the lowermost rail 20 extending from the storage device while the other is associated with the uppermost rail 20 extending therefrom. Since the structures for both of the cranks 254 is identical, only one will be described and the same is seen in detail in FIG. 15. In particular, the housing 252 includes an upper opening 156 through which a shaft 258 mounting the crank 254 may extend. Aligned below the opening 256 is a neck 260 which receives the lower end of the shaft 258.

The shaft 258 mounts, within the housing 252, a spool 262 which is secured to the shaft 258 by a set screw 264. The lowermost flange 266 of the spool 262 is urged upwardly by means of a coil spring 268 interposed between the same and the lower side of the housing 252 while the uppermost flange 270 of the spool 62 includes a plurality of ratchet teeth 272 about its periphery. A spring loaded pawl 274 depends from the upper side of the housing 252 and is in engagement with the ratchet teeth 272 permitting free rotation of the shaft 258 in one direction and precluding rotation in the opposite direction so long as the same in in engagement withthe teeth 272. The spool 262 further includes an upper extension 276 which limits upward movement of the same within the housing. One of the sides of the housing 252 includes an opening 278 through which a flexible rail 20 may extend to be wound about the spool 262. Finally, it should be noted that when the extension 276 is in abutment with the upper side of the housing 252, the lowermost end of the shaft 258 is spaced above the bottom of the neck 260.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the flexible rail 20 may be freely retrieved from the storage device 46 simply by pulling on the same in the direction of an arrow 280. In order to store the flexible rail 20 within the storage device 46, the crank 254 may be depressed against the bias of the spring 268 so that the ratchet teeth 272 are disengaged from the pawl 274. The crank 254 may then be rotated in an appropriate direction to wind the rail 20 upon the spool 262. Of course, if it be desired that the rail 20 be freely taken into the storage device and positively locked therein through action of the ratchet teeth 272 and pawl 274, the same mechanical arrangement may be used but the rail 20 wound about the spool 262 in a direction opposite from that illustrated in FIG. 15.

We claim:

1. In a toy system including at least two, elevated rails arranged in intersecting relation, the combination comprising: means defining a' vehicle; means for suspending the vehicle from a rail; means on said vehicle for driving the same along a rail; said suspending and driving means comprising a single rotatable element adapted to overlie and engage a rail and means on said vehicle operative when the intersection of two rails are encountered to shift the vehicle to the intersecting rail.

2. In a toy system including at least two, elevated rails arranged in intersecting relation, the combination comprising: means defining a vehicle; means for suspending the vehicle from a rail; means on said vehicle for driving the same along a rail; and shifting means on said vehicle operative when the intersection of two rails are encountered to shift the vehicle to the intersecting rail, said shifting means comprising a movably mounted pronged element adapted to engage an intersecting rail as the vehicle move along the rail and means for moving said pronged element through a path wherein the same is caused to overlie the intersecting rail and move downwardly to engage the same.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said pronged element comprises a star wheel mounted for rotation on said vehicle and said moving means comprises means for rotating said star wheel.

4. The invention of claim 3 further including a rotatable flange slightly spaced from said star wheel and defining therewith a rail receiving space, said driving means including a rotatable friction disc interposed between said star wheel and said flange, and means for rotating said friction disc.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said star wheel rotating means is operative to rotate said star wheel at a relatively. slow speed and said friction disc rotating means is operable to rotate said friction disc at a relatively higher speed whereby vehicle velocity along the rail is maximized while the possibility of disengagement of a vehicle from a rail during transfer to an intersecting rail is minimized.

6. In a toy system including at least two, elevated rails arranged in intersecting relation, the combination comprising: means defining a vehicle; means for suspending the vehicle from a rail; means on said vehicle for driving the same along a rail; means on said vehicle operative when the intersection of two rails are encountered to shift the vehicle to the intersecting rail; means on said vehicle operative to retain said vehicle on said intersecting rail during operation of said shifting means; said retaining means comprising a pair of spaced elements normally positioned to extend above and on both sides of the rail on which the vehicle is traveling, and mounted for movement to a position beneath the rails upon engagement of the same with an intersecting rail, and means normally biasing said elements to said first mentioned position.

7. In a toy system including at least two, elevated rails arranged in intersection relation, the combination comprising: means defining a vehicle; means for suspending the vehicle from a rail; means on said vehicle for driving same along a rail; and means on said vehicle operative when the intersection of two rails are encountered to shift the vehicle to the intersecting rail, said system further including means defining a second, ground engaging vehicle; and cooperating means on said first and second vehicles for releasably connecting said second vehicle to said first vehicle whereby the latter may carry and transport the former in an elevated position above a supporting surface, said cooperating means being operative to releasably connect and disconnect said two vehicles upon relative movement of one toward or away from the other.

8. In a toy system including at least two, elevated rails arranged in intersecting relation, the combination comprising: means defining a vehicle; means for suspending the vehicle from a rail; means on said vehicle for driving the same along a rail; and means on said vehicle operative when the intersection of two rails are encountered to shift the vehicle to the intersecting rail, said vehicle defining means including means for holding at least one projectile that may be released therefrom to be directed toward a surface therebeneath, and means for selectively releasing said projectile, said system further including means defining a target to be struck by said projectile, said target including a target plate and projectile means adapted to be launched in response to a projectile from said vehicle striking said target plate, said target means being adapted to be supported by said surface.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises a helicopter fuselage having a rotatable rotor structure extending upwardly therefrom; said driving means comprising a motor for rotating said driving element and said shifting means comprises a pronged element movable over an intersecting rail and downwardly to engage the same; a first transmission interconnecting said motor and said driving element for rotating the same at a first, relatively high rate of speed; a second transmission operatively associated with one of said first transmission and said motor for driving said pronged element at a rate of speed less than that of said driving element, and means operatively associated with one of said motors, said first transmission and said second transmission for rotating said rotor structure.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said shifting means comprises a rotatable star wheel adjacent said driving element, means interconnecting said motor and said driving element to drive the latter at one rate of rotation and means interconnecting said motor and said star wheel to drive and star wheel at a rate of rotation less than the rate of rotation at which the driving element is driven.

11. In a toy system including at least one rail on which a suspended vehicle may travel in elevated relation to a supporting surface, the combination comprismg:

l. means defining a vehicle including a. means for suspending the vehicle on a rail;

b. means for moving the vehicle along the rail;

c. means on said vehicle for holding at least one projectile that may be released therefrom to be directed toward said supporting surface;

(1. means for selectively releasing said projectile;

and

ll. means defining a target to be struck by said projectile and including a. target plate; and

b. projectile means adapted to be launched in response to the projectile from said vehicle striking said target plate; said target means being adapted to be supported by said supporting surface.

12. The toy system of claim 11 wherein said target plate is operatively associated with a latch for a spring loaded mechanism to release the same, said projectile means being launched upon release of said spring loaded means.

13. The toy system of claim 11 particularly adapted for use in a multiple rail system including a plurality of rails, at least some of which intersect each other and wherein said vehicle further includes means for shifting the vehicle from the rail on which it is traveling to an intersecting rail.

14. In a toy system having at least one rail along which a vehicle may travel in an elevated position above a surface, the combination comprising: means defining a first vehicle including means for suspending the vehicleon a rail and means for moving the vehicle along a rail; means defining a second vehicle adapted to be in normal engagement with the supporting surface; and cooperating means on said first and second vehicles for releasably connecting said second vehicle to said first vehicle whereby the latter may carry and transport the former in an elevated position above the supporting surface, said cooperating means being operative to releasably connect and disconnect said two vehicles upon relative movement of onetoward or any from the other. I

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said cooperating means comprise a pair of elements extending downwardly from said first vehicle and spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of said second vehicle, opposed track means on one of said second vehicle and said downwardly projecting elements and stud means adapted to be received in the track means on the other of said second vehicle and said downwardly projecting elements.

16. The invention of claim 15 wherein said track means are generally horizontally arranged and include a depression in which the stud means may nest.

17. The invention of claim 14 particularly suited for use in a toy system having a plurality of rails, at least some of which intersect each other and wherein said vehicle further includes means for shifting the vehicle some one rail to another at an intersection of two rails.

18. A toy system comprising: a. at least two elevated rails arranged in intersecting relation' b. means for holding said rails in a position elevated ing to drive the other side of the vehicle in the direction in which it was traveling, said continuing drive means being operative in conjunction with said blocking means to cause a pivoting movement of the vehicle thereby shifting the same from the rail on which it was traveling to the intersecting rail.

19. The toy system of claim 18 further including means defining a parachute having a releasable connecting means adapted to be releasably connected to a flexible element; an elongated flexible element adapted to have one end releasably connected to said parachute and its other end connected to a rail; aid vehicle further including a fork-like element adapted to engage the flexible element and move along the same to engage the parachute and disconnect the same from the flexible element whereby the parachute may fall under the influence of gravity to simulate a parachute drop.

20. The toy system of claim 18 wherein said rails are flexible and further including a storage device for said flexible rails, said storage device comprising a housing having an opening through which a flexible rail may extend, means within said housing including a reel about which the flexible rail may be wound, means extending from said housing and including a crank for rotating the reel; means including a ratchet and a cooperating pawl for normally limiting rotation of said reel to one direction; and means for disengaging said ratchet from said pawl to permit rotation of the reel in the opposite direction.

21. The toy system of claim 18 wherein at least some of said rails are rigid and other of said rails are flexible, at least one of said rigid rails being operative in conjunction with said rail holding means to support the flexible rails above said surface.

22. The invention of claim 21 wherein at least one of said rigid rails defines a closed loop construction and said blocking means and said continuing drive means are operative in conjunction with each other to pivot the vehicle in the same direction relative toits direction in travel whereby two vehicles traveling in opposite directions on the same rail may pass each other at the rigid rail defining the closed loop construction. 

1. In a toy system including at least two, elevated rails arranged in intersecting relation, the combination comprising: means defining a vehicle; means for suspending the vehicle from a rail; means on said vehicle for driving the same along a rail; said suspending and driving means comprising a single rotatable element adapted to overlie and engage a rail and means on said vehicle operative when the intersection of two rails are encountered to shift the vehicle to the intersecting rail.
 2. In a toy system including at least two, elevated rails arranged in intersecting relation, the combination comprising: means defining a vehicle; means for suspending the vehicle from a rail; means on said vehicle for driving the same along a rail; and shifting means on said vehicle operative when the intersection of two rails are encountered to shift the vehicle to the intersecting rail, said shifting means comprising a movably mounted pronged element adapted to engage an intersecting rail as the vehicle move along the rail and means for moving said pronged element through a path wherein the same is caused to overlie the intersecting rail and move downwardly to engage the same.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said pronged element comprises a star wheel mounted for rotation on said vehicle and said moving means comprises means for rotating said star wheel.
 4. The invention of claim 3 further including a rotatable flange slightly spaced from said star wheel and defining therewith a rail receiving space, said driving means including a rotatable friction disc interposed between said star wheel and said flange, and means for rotating said friction disc.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said star wheel rotating means is operative to rotate said star wheel at a relatively slow speed and said friction disc rotating means is operable to rotate said friction disc at a relatively higher speed whereby vehicle velocity along the rail is maximized while the possibility of disengagement of a vehicle from a rail during transfer to an intersecting rail is minimized.
 6. In a toy system including at least two, elevated rails arranged in intersecting relation, the combination comprising: means defining a vehicle; means for suspending the vehicle from a rail; means on said vehicle for driving the same along a rail; means on said vehicle operative when the intersection of two rails are encountered to shift the vehicle to the intersecting rail; means on said vehicle operative to retain said vehicle on said intersecting rail during operation of said shifting means; said retaining means comprising a pair of spaced elements normally positioned to extend above and on both sides of the rail on which the vehicle is traveling, and mounted for movement to a position beneath the rails upon engagement of the same with an intersecting rail, and means normally biasing said elements to said first mentioned position.
 7. In a toy system including at least two, elevated rails arranged in intersection relation, the combination comprising: means defining a vehicle; means for suspending the vehicle from a rail; means on said vehicle for driving same along a rail; and means on said vehicle operative when the intersection of two rails are encountered to shift the vehicle to the intersecting rail, said system further including means defining a second, ground engaging vehicle; and cooperating means on said first and second vehicles for releasably connecting said second vehicle to said first vehicle whereby the latter may carry and transport the former in an elevated position above a supporting surface, said cooperating means being operative to releasably connect and disconnect sAid two vehicles upon relative movement of one toward or away from the other.
 8. In a toy system including at least two, elevated rails arranged in intersecting relation, the combination comprising: means defining a vehicle; means for suspending the vehicle from a rail; means on said vehicle for driving the same along a rail; and means on said vehicle operative when the intersection of two rails are encountered to shift the vehicle to the intersecting rail, said vehicle defining means including means for holding at least one projectile that may be released therefrom to be directed toward a surface therebeneath, and means for selectively releasing said projectile, said system further including means defining a target to be struck by said projectile, said target including a target plate and projectile means adapted to be launched in response to a projectile from said vehicle striking said target plate, said target means being adapted to be supported by said surface.
 9. The invention of claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises a helicopter fuselage having a rotatable rotor structure extending upwardly therefrom; said driving means comprising a motor for rotating said driving element and said shifting means comprises a pronged element movable over an intersecting rail and downwardly to engage the same; a first transmission interconnecting said motor and said driving element for rotating the same at a first, relatively high rate of speed; a second transmission operatively associated with one of said first transmission and said motor for driving said pronged element at a rate of speed less than that of said driving element, and means operatively associated with one of said motors, said first transmission and said second transmission for rotating said rotor structure.
 10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said shifting means comprises a rotatable star wheel adjacent said driving element, means interconnecting said motor and said driving element to drive the latter at one rate of rotation and means interconnecting said motor and said star wheel to drive and star wheel at a rate of rotation less than the rate of rotation at which the driving element is driven.
 11. In a toy system including at least one rail on which a suspended vehicle may travel in elevated relation to a supporting surface, the combination comprising: I. means defining a vehicle including a. means for suspending the vehicle on a rail; b. means for moving the vehicle along the rail; c. means on said vehicle for holding at least one projectile that may be released therefrom to be directed toward said supporting surface; d. means for selectively releasing said projectile; and II. means defining a target to be struck by said projectile and including a. target plate; and b. projectile means adapted to be launched in response to the projectile from said vehicle striking said target plate; said target means being adapted to be supported by said supporting surface.
 12. The toy system of claim 11 wherein said target plate is operatively associated with a latch for a spring loaded mechanism to release the same, said projectile means being launched upon release of said spring loaded means.
 13. The toy system of claim 11 particularly adapted for use in a multiple rail system including a plurality of rails, at least some of which intersect each other and wherein said vehicle further includes means for shifting the vehicle from the rail on which it is traveling to an intersecting rail.
 14. In a toy system having at least one rail along which a vehicle may travel in an elevated position above a surface, the combination comprising: means defining a first vehicle including means for suspending the vehicle on a rail and means for moving the vehicle along a rail; means defining a second vehicle adapted to be in normal engagement with the supporting surface; and cooperating means on said first and second vehicles for releasably connecting said second vehicle to said first vEhicle whereby the latter may carry and transport the former in an elevated position above the supporting surface, said cooperating means being operative to releasably connect and disconnect said two vehicles upon relative movement of one toward or any from the other.
 15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said cooperating means comprise a pair of elements extending downwardly from said first vehicle and spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of said second vehicle, opposed track means on one of said second vehicle and said downwardly projecting elements and stud means adapted to be received in the track means on the other of said second vehicle and said downwardly projecting elements.
 16. The invention of claim 15 wherein said track means are generally horizontally arranged and include a depression in which the stud means may nest.
 17. The invention of claim 14 particularly suited for use in a toy system having a plurality of rails, at least some of which intersect each other and wherein said vehicle further includes means for shifting the vehicle some one rail to another at an intersection of two rails.
 18. A toy system comprising: a. at least two elevated rails arranged in intersecting relation; b. means for holding said rails in a position elevated above a supporting surface; c. means defining a vehicle and including means whereby the vehicle may be suspended from a rail; d. means on said vehicle for driving the same along a rail; e. means on said vehicle operative during movement of the vehicle along a rail and the encountering of the intersection of two rails by the vehicle for blocking further movement of one side of the vehicle along the rail it is traveling; and f. means on said vehicle and operative when the same encounters an intersection of two rails for continuing to drive the other side of the vehicle in the direction in which it was traveling, said continuing drive means being operative in conjunction with said blocking means to cause a pivoting movement of the vehicle thereby shifting the same from the rail on which it was traveling to the intersecting rail.
 19. The toy system of claim 18 further including means defining a parachute having a releasable connecting means adapted to be releasably connected to a flexible element; an elongated flexible element adapted to have one end releasably connected to said parachute and its other end connected to a rail; aid vehicle further including a fork-like element adapted to engage the flexible element and move along the same to engage the parachute and disconnect the same from the flexible element whereby the parachute may fall under the influence of gravity to simulate a parachute drop.
 20. The toy system of claim 18 wherein said rails are flexible and further including a storage device for said flexible rails, said storage device comprising a housing having an opening through which a flexible rail may extend, means within said housing including a reel about which the flexible rail may be wound, means extending from said housing and including a crank for rotating the reel; means including a ratchet and a cooperating pawl for normally limiting rotation of said reel to one direction; and means for disengaging said ratchet from said pawl to permit rotation of the reel in the opposite direction.
 21. The toy system of claim 18 wherein at least some of said rails are rigid and other of said rails are flexible, at least one of said rigid rails being operative in conjunction with said rail holding means to support the flexible rails above said surface.
 22. The invention of claim 21 wherein at least one of said rigid rails defines a closed loop construction and said blocking means and said continuing drive means are operative in conjunction with each other to pivot the vehicle in the same direction relative to its direction in travel whereby two vehicles traveling in opposite directions on the same rail may pass each other at the rigid rail defining The closed loop construction. 